Search a title or topic

Over 20 million podcasts, powered by 

Player FM logo
Artwork

Content provided by Atif Qadir. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Atif Qadir or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

A New Take on Disaster Housing in Hawaiʻi (Part 2)

35:14
 
Share
 

Manage episode 513765280 series 2874474
Content provided by Atif Qadir. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Atif Qadir or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

There are over 2,000 different building codes across the United States, including 340 in Colorado alone. This fragmentation is one of the biggest barriers preventing modular housing from addressing America's affordability crisis. Wayne Norbeck and Jordan Rogove, co-founders of DXA Studio and Liv-Connected, are working to change that through their design work and their efforts on Capitol Hill.

In this second part of our conversation, Wayne and Jordan explain the technical strategy behind the Lahaina project. By engineering components to fit on standard flatbed trucks rather than expensive wide-load transport, they reduced shipping costs from $18 per mile to $2-3 per mile. Each unit arrives complete and can be installed in four hours, with finishes that include pre-finished birch plywood interiors and peaked roofs—features manufacturers repeatedly tried to eliminate, but made a huge difference for tenants.

The conversation also explores how regional code standardization could save 30 cents on every housing dollar and current progress with bipartisan support for legislation extending HUD's manufactured housing authority. This would cut approval times from months to weeks while maintaining quality standards, potentially transforming how America responds to natural disasters and housing affordability.

Episode Outline

(01:01) Volumetric versus hybrid modular systems and the economics of shipping costs

(04:31) Material choices that avoid institutional aesthetics and support permanent housing

(11:05) Navigating FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers, and Maui County building approvals

(14:37) Where modular housing can have the highest impact beyond disaster relief

(17:45) The case for regional building codes to unlock affordable housing at scale

(21:30) Legislative solutions and bipartisan Congressional support for modular expansion

(29:25) Connecting with state officials, nonprofits, and the UCLA cityLAB initiative

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Learn more about Liv-Connected

Learn more about DXA Studio

The Modular Construction Landscape by Atif Z. Qadir

cityLAB - UCLA

Modular Building Institute

Sen. Tim Scott's ROAD to Housing Act

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Homes for All Act

A New Take on Disaster Housing in Hawaiʻi (Part 1)

Connect with Jordan Rogove

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with Wayne Norbeck

Connect on LinkedIn

More From American Building

Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis

Learn more on the American Building website

Follow on LinkedIn

Follow on Instagram

Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn

Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design

Watch this episode on YouTube

  continue reading

97 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 513765280 series 2874474
Content provided by Atif Qadir. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Atif Qadir or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

There are over 2,000 different building codes across the United States, including 340 in Colorado alone. This fragmentation is one of the biggest barriers preventing modular housing from addressing America's affordability crisis. Wayne Norbeck and Jordan Rogove, co-founders of DXA Studio and Liv-Connected, are working to change that through their design work and their efforts on Capitol Hill.

In this second part of our conversation, Wayne and Jordan explain the technical strategy behind the Lahaina project. By engineering components to fit on standard flatbed trucks rather than expensive wide-load transport, they reduced shipping costs from $18 per mile to $2-3 per mile. Each unit arrives complete and can be installed in four hours, with finishes that include pre-finished birch plywood interiors and peaked roofs—features manufacturers repeatedly tried to eliminate, but made a huge difference for tenants.

The conversation also explores how regional code standardization could save 30 cents on every housing dollar and current progress with bipartisan support for legislation extending HUD's manufactured housing authority. This would cut approval times from months to weeks while maintaining quality standards, potentially transforming how America responds to natural disasters and housing affordability.

Episode Outline

(01:01) Volumetric versus hybrid modular systems and the economics of shipping costs

(04:31) Material choices that avoid institutional aesthetics and support permanent housing

(11:05) Navigating FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers, and Maui County building approvals

(14:37) Where modular housing can have the highest impact beyond disaster relief

(17:45) The case for regional building codes to unlock affordable housing at scale

(21:30) Legislative solutions and bipartisan Congressional support for modular expansion

(29:25) Connecting with state officials, nonprofits, and the UCLA cityLAB initiative

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Learn more about Liv-Connected

Learn more about DXA Studio

The Modular Construction Landscape by Atif Z. Qadir

cityLAB - UCLA

Modular Building Institute

Sen. Tim Scott's ROAD to Housing Act

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Homes for All Act

A New Take on Disaster Housing in Hawaiʻi (Part 1)

Connect with Jordan Rogove

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with Wayne Norbeck

Connect on LinkedIn

More From American Building

Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis

Learn more on the American Building website

Follow on LinkedIn

Follow on Instagram

Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn

Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design

Watch this episode on YouTube

  continue reading

97 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Copyright 2025 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | | Copyright
Listen to this show while you explore
Play